Azernews.Az

By Mushvig Mehdiyev

Moscow justified its intervention in Georgia’s breakaway region by explaining that since Tbilisi "persistently refuses to sign an agreement about a non-use of force” it had to intervene and deploy Russian guards near the so-called border between Georgia and breakaway Abkhazia.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement about the upcoming Moscow visit of Abkhazia’s de-facto Foreign Minister, on March 10. The statement mainly focused on the visit agenda, including the Abkhazian envoy’s meeting with Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, but it also stressed the importance of deepening Russia-Abkhazia relations in general.

"Russian-Abkhazian security cooperation is especially important in light of Tbilisi's persistent refusal to sign agreements on non-use of force. Based on bilateral agreements, a Russian military base was deployed on the territory of Abkhazia. Our soldiers guard the Abkhazian borders with Georgia,” the statement read.

The upcoming talks will focus on improving bilateral ties in between Russia and the breakaway region of Georgia, Abkhazia, improvement of full-scale interstate cooperation and the strengthening of foreign policy cooperation.

Russia recognized Abkhazia as an independent state following the Russia-Georgia war in August 2008. Since then, Russia has propped up Abkhazia's existence as an independent state, looking to secure its people a peaceful future.

Since 2008, Russia and Georgia’s breakaway region have signed 90 agreements, mapping out bilateral ties.

Although Russia has recognized Abkhazia, the international community did not and since it does not recognize Abkhazia' sovereignty, any documents signed in between the two powers stand as non-binding and null before international law.

Meanwhile, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe is looking for a way to restore its observer mission in the Russia-occupied regions of Georgia.

OSCE Secretary General, Lamberto Zannier said at a meeting with Georgia Foreign Minister Tamar Beruchashvili in Tbilisi on March 9 that he was using all leverages, particularly dialogue, to solve problems in Georgia’s breakaway regions. “But solving political and other problems would be easier if our mission were present there,” Zannier added

OSCE officially closed its observer mission in Georgia after the Russia-Georgia war in the summer of 2008.

Expressing the OSCE’s concern over Russia's military drills in Georgia’s occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions, Zannier called on Russia to adhere to the ceasefire agreement - signed shortly after the August war.

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